FRIDAY, 21 NOVEMBER – A total of 51 Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) Officer Cadet Students of the Civil Defense Corps (SISPA) were commissioned at a ceremony at the Dewan Resital (Recital Hall), UMS, yesterday.

When reading the text of the Chief Minister, he said that with the variety of skills learned, members of SISPA were not only able to become graduates with extensive marketability but also able to provide assistance when faced with disaster, emergency or war.

“It is hoped that UMS and the Civil Defense Department (JPAM) will continue to intensify its community activities and volunteerism so the public can feel their presence and readiness thus boosting the image of the university, the department and government,” he said.

According to him, the commissioning ceremony held for the first time in UMS was able to enhance the spirit of volunteerism and attract more students to join the SISPA Corps in the future.

The event also saw the commissioning of Honorary rank of Assistant Commissioner of the Civil Defence Corps to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Student Affairs and Alumni cum UMS SISPA Corps, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ismail Ali and the commissioning of the rank of Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel and Associate Major of the Civil Defense Corps to 15 allied officers.

Also held was the conferring of the national sovereignty medal to 104 Civil Defence personnel who had served in Ops-Daulat at Lahad Datu and the Civil Defense Long Service Award to a civil defense official.

Also present at the commissioning ceremony was the Director-General of JPAM, Dato’ Zaitun Ab Samad. – MA (fl)